Inclusion in Early Childhood Education: What Does it Mean and Why is it Important?

Written By Donna Koller

Social inclusion refers to the idea that every child, no matter their background or abilities, should have the right to form part of society. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) states that children have the right to survive, grow, and develop. Social inclusion is about making sure every child can grow, express themselves, and be supported in an equitable way in order to participate in all matters that concern them, including their education (Koller et al., 2018; Koller & Stoddart, 2021; Koller et al., 2025).

What Does Social Inclusion Mean in Education? 
In schools, social inclusion means creating environments where all children feel welcomed, valued, and motivated to explore and learn. It is important that classrooms are not only inclusive in the materials they offer, but that teaching is also equitable and considers the strengths and needs of each child. The goal is to help every child feel like they belong and can succeed, while building confidence and independence. Social inclusion in education is about meeting children where they are at and not where you think they should be.

How Can Educational Programs Reflect Inclusion?

Adapting Curriculum: Educators can make their classrooms more inclusive by rearranging the way lessons are taught. This can help all students participate in activities in a way that fits their learning style, needs, and interests. For example, if a child is a tactile learner, various manipulatives such as textured beads and building blocks could be provided. This would ensure that the curriculum and related materials support individual childrens’ strengths and preferences. There are two main ways to adapt the curriculum: accommodations and modifications. Accommodations are minor changes to support children, such as extra time for structured activities. On the other hand, modifications involve adapting curriculum or materials to meet the child’s level of understanding, physical, social, or linguistic abilities. As a pedagogical practice, educators should engage children in decisions to support their sense of self-esteem and belonging. Educators can involve children in the decision making process by asking for their input into the planned curriculum, materials and classroom environment.  

Involving Families: Families play a strong role in social inclusion. Parents and caregivers know their children best and can help educators understand their needs. Schools should promote families’ authentic involvement in their children’s education. This means that educators solicit and welcome families’ input, ideas, observations and insights into their children’s learning and development. According to How Does Learning Happen, families can support educators in brainstorming unique exploration opportunities for children. Sharing pedagogical documentation (educators’ documentation of children’s learning) with parents and children is one way to meaningfully involve them in the classroom. 

Supporting Peer Relationships: Strong friendships are important for children’s development. When children connect with their peers, they feel more included and enjoy learning more. Educators can strengthen these relationships by creating activities that encourage children to work with a small group of peers and build friendships. Intimate collaborative tasks that promote social play help children develop empathy, stronger communication skills, and perspective-taking.

Long-Term Impact of Social Inclusion 
Practicing social inclusion from the very beginning helps children succeed in plenty of ways. When learning and community spaces focus on inclusion from the start, children do better in school and develop important skills like self-confidence, self determination, and independence. Educators can refer to the Early Learning for Every Child Today (ELECT) framework (2014). ELECT can help educators understand the importance of promoting social inclusion in their classrooms and how it benefits children’s overall development. Additionally, the resource How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years (2021) provides educators with foundational knowledge on how to create optimal conditions for children’s learning. Ultimately, social inclusion helps set the stage for success, including academically, emotionally, and socially.


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Donna Koller